Town of South Berwick, ME Medical Leave

For the purposes of this section, the first month of an employee's service shall be counted as a full calendar month of service if employment began on or before the 15th day of the month, and the last month of an employee's service shall be counted as a full calendar month of employment if employment terminates on or after the 15th day of the month.

Medical leave shall not be paid on any observed holiday established by this policy.

Medical leave for regularly scheduled part-time employees shall accrue at the rate of one average workday per month, accumulative to a maximum of 120 hours. Medical leave will not be paid on any observed holiday established by this policy.

§ 31-51 Accounting.

[Amended 8-8-2005]

Medical leave, when used, shall be charged to an employee's medical leave account. Each department head shall review medical leave records pertaining to his/her department on a monthly basis and shall have authority to investigate cases where there is reason to suspect that abuse is occurring.

§ 31-52 Abuse of medical leave.

Medical leave is designed by the Town to give employees protection against loss of income during periods of illness or injury as described above. Willful abuse of the medical leave privilege shall be cause for dismissal or other disciplinary action. After an absence of three or more consecutive workdays, the employee, if requested, shall furnish his/her department head a statement from the employee's attending physician.

§ 31-52.1 Sick/vacation time donation program.

[Added 5-23-2005]

The purpose of the sick/vacation time donation program is to permit an employee to donate accrued sick or vacation leave to another employee. This policy permits such a donation to occur when an employee has a need for additional paid leave because they have exhausted all paid leave and have a serious medical hardship or catastrophic illness or injury, such as cancer, major surgery, AIDS, a serious accident, heart attack, etc., that poses a threat to life and/or requires inpatient, hospice or residential health care. The employee's need may arise from their own serious medical hardship or catastrophic illness or from their need to care for a family member, including a spouse or domestic partner, child, or parent, who has a serious medical hardship or catastrophic illness. This policy is not intended to cover an employee who is experiencing a normal pregnancy, has a common illness, has an illness or injury covered by an employer-paid long-term disability policy or worker's compensation, or has incurred injury during the course of committing a felony. Similarly, this policy is not intended to provide leave to any employee who has previously abused any paid leave.

To be eligible to participate, an employee:

Must be a full- or part-time regular employee;

Must be eligible to accrue sick and/or vacation leave;

Must have exhausted all forms of paid leave (i.e., vacation, sick, compensatory time, personal holiday, etc.);

Must have passed their initial probationary period; and

(5)

Must suffer from a serious medical hardship or catastrophic illness or injury which requires inpatient, hospice or residential care.

Employees are ineligible to use this policy during any disciplinary suspensions or if they are receiving, or have applied to receive, workers' compensation.

Administration. The Town Manager, in conjunction with the Finance Director, is responsible for coordinating donations, reviewing eligibility requirements and authorizing eligibility. In making decisions, the Town Manager will review all medical evidence submitted by the affected employee, including but not limited to physician statements, verify that all paid leave has been exhausted, and work with applicable union representatives and prepare any necessary documentation. Final decisions on eligibility and distribution of donated leave time rest with the Town Manager and shall not be subject to the grievance procedure. The Payroll Administrator will ensure that no decision will be made on an employee's race, religion, creed, color, sex, national origin, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, public assistance status, or veteran status.

Contributions. Employees wishing to donate time to an affected employee should submit their request in writing to the Finance Director, specifically stating the amount of sick or vacation time that he/she wishes to donate and who they would like to donate to. Donations are limited to a maximum of 40 hours of accrued time (sick and vacation time combined) per calendar year and a minimum of four hours (sick and vacation time combined).

§ 31-53 Workers' compensation.

[Amended 9-13-2016]

Employees who are eligible for workers' compensation for a service-connected injury may elect to take earned sick leave in addition to workers' compensation to the extent that it provides no more than full regular pay, and to the extent of earned sick leave credit. Employees with accumulated sick leave shall continue to receive weekly paychecks to offset the workers' compensation wages, not to exceed 100% of regular weekly wages.

§ 31-54 Retirement or death.

Upon retirement from service from the Town of South Berwick or upon death, an employee or his/her estate will be compensated for 25% of his/her medical leave balance at a rate equal to his/her rate at retirement or death.

§ 31-54.1 Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

[Added 12-8-2015]

(includes qualifying exigency and military caregiver leave)

The Town of South Berwick will provide family and medical leave to its eligible employees. The Town posts the mandatory FMLA notice and upon hire provides all new hires with notices required by the United States Department of Labor (DOL) on employee rights and responsibilities under the Family and Medical Leave Act posted in the Town Hall on the second floor and in each of the Town facilities.

The function of this policy is to provide employees with a general description of their FMLA rights. In the event of any conflict between this policy and the applicable law, employees will be afforded all rights required by law.

General provisions. Under this policy, the Town of South Berwick (hereinafter referred to as "the Town") will grant up to 12 weeks (or up to 26 weeks of military caregiver leave to care for a covered service member with a serious injury or illness) during a twelve-month period to eligible employees. The leave may be paid, unpaid or a combination of paid and unpaid leave, depending on the circumstances of the leave and as specified in this policy.

Eligibility. To qualify to take family or medical leave under this policy, the employee must meet all of the following conditions:

The employee must have worked for the Town for 12 months or 52 weeks. The 12 months or 52 weeks need not have been consecutive. Separate periods of employment will be counted, provided that the break in service does not exceed seven years. Separate periods of employment will be counted if the break in service exceeds seven years due to National Guard or Reserve military service obligations or when there is a written agreement, including a collective bargaining agreement, stating the employer's intention to rehire the employee after the service break. For eligibility purposes, an employee will be considered to have been employed for an entire week even if the employee was on the payroll for only part of a week of if the employee is on leave during the week.

The employee must have worked at least 1,250 hours during the twelve-month period immediately preceding the commencement of the leave. The 1,250 hours do not include time spent on paid or unpaid leave. Consequently, these hours of leave should not be counted in determining the 1,250 hours eligibility test for an employee under FMLA.

The employee must work in a worksite where 50 or more employees are employed by the company within 75 miles of that office or worksite. The distance is to be calculated by using available transportation by the most direct route.

An employee who does not qualify for the federal FMLA leave may qualify for leave under the Maine Family Medical Leave Law. Under Maine state law, an employee who has worked for the Town for 12 consecutive months and meets the other qualifying criteria is eligible for up to 10 work weeks of family medical leave during any two-year period.

Type of leave covered. To qualify as FMLA leave under this policy, the employee must be taking leave for one of the reasons listed below:

The birth of a child and in order to care for that child.

The placement of a child for adoption or foster care and to care for the newly placed child.

To care for a spouse, child or parent with a serious health condition (described below).

The serious health condition (described below) of the employee.

(a)

An employee may take leave because of a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the functions of the employee's position.

(b)

A "serious health condition" is defined as a condition that requires inpatient care at a hospital, hospice or residential medical care facility, including any period of incapacity or any subsequent treatment in connection with such inpatient care or a condition that requires continuing care by a licensed health care provider.

(c)

This policy covers illnesses of a serious and long-term nature, resulting in recurring or lengthy absences. Generally, a chronic or long-term health condition that would result in a period of three consecutive days of incapacity with the first visit to the health care provider within seven days of the onset of the incapacity and a second visit within 30 days of the incapacity would be considered a serious health condition. For chronic conditions requiring periodic health care visits for treatment, such visits must take place at least twice a year.

(d)

If an employee takes paid sick leave for a condition that progresses into a serious health condition and the employee requests unpaid leave as provided under this policy, the company may designate all or some portion of the related leave taken as leave under this policy, to the extent that the earlier leave meets the necessary qualifications.

(5)

Qualifying exigency leave for families of members of the National Guard or Reserves or of a regular component of the Armed Forces when the covered military member is on covered active duty or called to covered active duty.

(a)

An employee whose spouse, son, daughter or parent either has been notified of an impending call or order to covered active military duty or who is already on covered active duty may take up to 12 weeks of leave for reasons related to or affected by the family member's call-up or service. The qualifying exigency must be one of the following:

Short-notice deployment;

Military events and activities;

[3]

Child care and school activities;

[4]

Financial and legal arrangements;

[5]

Counseling;

[6]

Rest and recuperation;

[7]

Post-deployment activities; and

[8]

Additional activities that arise out of active duty, provided that the employer and the employee agree, including agreement on timing and duration of leave.

(b)

Eligible employees are entitled to FMLA leave to care for a current member of the Armed Forces, including a member of the National Guard or Reserves, or a member of the Armed Forces, the National Guard or Reserves who is on the temporary disability retired list, who has a serious injury or illness incurred in the line of duty on active duty for which he or she is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation, or therapy; or otherwise in outpatient status; or otherwise on the temporary disability retired list. Eligible employees may not take leave under this provision to care for former members of the Armed Forces, former members of the National Guard and Reserves, and members on the permanent disability retired list.

(c)

In order to care for a covered service member, an eligible employee must be the spouse, son, daughter, parent, or next of kin of a covered service member.

A "son or daughter of a covered service member" means the covered service member's biological, adopted, or foster child, stepchild, legal ward, or a child for whom the covered service member stood in loco parentis and who is of any age.

A "parent of a covered service member" means a covered service member's biological, adoptive, step or foster father or mother, or any other individual who stood in loco parentis to the covered service member. This term does not include parents "in law."

[3]

Under the FMLA, a "spouse" means a husband or wife, including those in same-sex marriages, which were made legal in all 50 United States as of June 26, 2015.

[4]

The "next of kin of a covered service member" is the nearest blood relative, other than the covered service member's spouse, parent, son or daughter, in the following order of priority: blood relatives who have been granted legal custody of the service member by court decree or statutory provisions, brothers and sisters, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and first cousins, unless the covered service member has specifically designated in writing another blood relative as his or her nearest blood relative for purposes of military caregiver leave under the FMLA. When no such designation is made, and there are multiple family members with the same level of relationship to the covered service member, all such family members shall be considered the covered service member's next of kin and may take FMLA leave to provide care to the covered service member, either consecutively or simultaneously. When such designation has been made, the designated individual shall be deemed to be the covered service member's only next of kin. For example, if a covered service member has three siblings and has not designated a blood relative to provide care, all three siblings would be considered the covered service member's next of kin. Alternatively, where a covered service member has a sibling(s) and designates a cousin as his or her next of kin for FMLA purposes, then only the designated cousin is eligible as the covered service member's next of kin. An employer is permitted to require an employee to provide confirmation of covered family relationship to the covered service member pursuant to 29 CFR 825.122(k).

(d)

"Covered active duty" means:

"Covered active duty" for members of a regular component of the Armed Forces means duty during deployment of the member with the Armed Forces to a foreign country.

"Covered active duty or call to covered active duty status" in the case of a member of the Reserve components of the Armed Forces means duty during the deployment of the member with the Armed Forces to a foreign country under a federal call or order to active duty in support of a contingency operation, in accordance with 29 CFR 825.102.

(e)

The leave may commence as soon as the individual receives the call-up notice. ("Son or daughter" for this type of FMLA leave is defined the same as for child for other types of FMLA leave except that the person does not have to be a minor.) This type of leave would be counted toward the employee's twelve-week maximum of FMLA leave in a twelve-month period.

(6)

Military caregiver leave (also known as "covered service member leave") to care for an injured or ill service member or veteran.

(a)

An employee whose son, daughter, parent or next of kin is a covered service member may take up to 26 weeks in a single twelve-month period to take care of leave to care for that service member.

(b)

"Next of kin" is defined as the closest blood relative of the injured or recovering service member.

(c)

The term "covered service member" means:

A member of the Armed Forces (including a member of the National Guard or Reserves) who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation, or therapy, is otherwise in outpatient status, or is otherwise on the temporary disability retired list, for a serious injury or illness; or

A veteran who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation, or therapy, for a serious injury or illness and who was a member of the Armed Forces (including a member of the National Guard or Reserves) at any time during the period of five years preceding the date on which the veteran undergoes that medical treatment, recuperation, or therapy.

(d)

The term "serious injury or illness" means:

In the case of a member of the Armed Forces (including a member of the National Guard or Reserves), an injury or illness that was incurred by the member in the line of duty on active duty in the Armed Forces (or existed before the beginning of the member's active duty and was aggravated by service in the line of duty on active duty in the Armed Forces) and that may render the member medically unfit to perform the duties of the member's office, grade, rank, or rating; and

In the case of a veteran who was a member of the Armed Forces (including a member of the National Guard or Reserves) at any time during a period when the person was a covered service member, a qualifying (as defined by the Secretary of Labor) injury or illness incurred by a covered service member in the line of duty on active duty that may render the service member medically unfit to perform the duties of his or her office, grade, rank or rating.

(e)

"Outpatient status," with respect to a covered service member, means the status of a member of the Armed Forces assigned to either a military treatment facility as an outpatient; or a unit established for the purpose of providing command and control of members of the Armed Forces receiving medical care as outpatients.

Amount of leave.

An eligible employee can take up to 12 weeks for the FMLA circumstances in Subsection C(1) through (5) above under this policy during any twelve-month period. The Town will measure the twelve-month period as a rolling twelve-month period measured backward from the date an employee uses any leave under this policy. Each time an employee takes leave, the Town will compute the amount of leave the employee has taken under this policy in the last 12 months and subtract it from the 12 weeks of available leave, and the balance remaining is the amount the employee is entitled to take at that time.

An eligible employee can take up to 26 weeks for the FMLA circumstance in Subsection C(6) above (military caregiver leave) during a single twelve-month period. For this military caregiver leave, the company will measure the twelve-month period as a rolling twelve-month period measured forward. FMLA leave already taken for other FMLA circumstances will be deducted from the total of 26 weeks available.

Employee status and benefits during leave.

While an employee is on leave, the Town will continue the employee's health benefits during the leave period at the same level and under the same conditions as if the employee had continued to work.

If the employee chooses not to return to work for reasons other than a continued serious health condition of the employee or the employee's family member or a circumstance beyond the employee's control, the Town will require the employee to reimburse the Town the amount it paid for the employee's health insurance premium during the leave period.

Under current Town policy, the employee pays a portion of the health care premium. While on paid leave, the Town will continue to make payroll deductions to collect the employee's share of the premium. While on unpaid leave, the employee must continue to make this payment, either in person or by mail. The payment must be received in the Finance Office by the first and the 15th of each month. If the payment is more than 30 days late, the employee's health care coverage may be dropped for the duration of the leave.

The Town will provide 15 days' notification prior to the employee's loss of coverage.

(5)

If the employee contributes to a life insurance, disability plan, dental coverage or flexible spending account, the Town will continue making payroll deductions while the employee is on paid leave. While the employee is on unpaid leave, the employee may request continuation of such benefits and pay his or her portion of the premiums, or the Town may elect to maintain such benefits during the leave and pay the employee's share of the premium payments. If the employee does not continue these payments, however, the Town may discontinue coverage during the leave. If the Town maintains coverage, the Town may recover the costs incurred for paying the employee's share of any premiums, whether or not the employee returns to work.

Employee status after leave. An employee who takes leave under this policy may be asked to provide a fitness for duty (FFD) clearance from the health care provider. This requirement will be included in the Town's response to the FMLA request. Generally, an employee who takes FMLA leave will be able to return to the same position or a position with equivalent status, pay, benefits, and other employment terms. The position will be the same or one which is virtually identical in terms of pay, benefits and working conditions. The Town may choose to exempt certain key employees from this requirement and not return to the same or similar position.

Use of paid and unpaid leave.

An employee who is taking FMLA leave because of the employee's own serious health condition or the serious health condition of a family member must use all paid time off (PTO), paid vacation, personal or sick leave prior to being eligible for unpaid leave. Sick leave may be run concurrently with FMLA leave if the reason for the FMLA leave is covered by the established sick leave policy.

Disability leave for the birth of the child and for an employee's serious health condition, including workers' compensation leave (to the extent that it qualifies), will be designated as FMLA leave and will run concurrently with FMLA. The employee will be required to substitute accrued (or earned) paid leave as appropriate before being eligible for unpaid leave for the duration of twelve-week entitlement. An employee who is taking leave for the adoption or foster care of a child must use all paid time off (PTO), paid vacation, personal or family leave prior to being eligible for unpaid leave.

An employee who is using military FMLA leave for qualifying exigency must use all paid time off (PTO), paid vacation and personal leave prior to being eligible for unpaid leave. An employee using FMLA military caregiver leave must also use all paid time off (PTO), paid vacation, personal leave or sick leave (as long as the reason for the absence is covered by the company's sick leave policy) prior to being eligible for unpaid leave.

Intermittent leave or a reduced work schedule.

The employee may take FMLA leave in 12 consecutive weeks, may use the leave intermittently (take a day periodically when needed over the year) or, under certain circumstances, may use the leave to reduce the workweek or workday, resulting in a reduced-hour schedule. In all cases, the leave may not exceed a total of 12 work weeks (or 26 work weeks to care for an injured or ill service member over a twelve-month period).

The Town may temporarily transfer an employee to an available alternative position with equivalent pay and benefits if the alternative position would better accommodate the intermittent or reduced schedule, in instances when leave for the employee or the employee's family member is foreseeable and for planned medical treatment, including recovery from a serious health condition or to care for a child after birth, or placement for adoption or foster care.

For the birth, adoption or foster care of a child, the Town and the employee must mutually agree to the schedule before the employee may take the leave intermittently or work a reduced-hour schedule. Leave for birth, adoption, or foster care of a child must be taken within one year of the birth or the placement of the child.

If the employee is taking leave for a serious health condition or because of the serious health condition of a family member, the employee should try to reach agreement with the Town before taking intermittent leave or working a reduced-hour schedule. If this is not possible, then the employee must prove that the use of the leave is medically necessary.

Certification for the employee's serious health condition.

The Town will require certification for the employee's serious health condition. The employee must respond to such a request within 15 days of the request or provide a reasonable explanation for the delay. Failure to provide certification may result in a denial of continuation of leave. Medical certification will be provided using the DOL Certification of Health Care Provider for Employee's Serious Health Condition.

The Town may directly contact the employee's health care provider for verification or clarification purposes using a health care professional, an HR professional, leave administrator or management official. The Town will not use the employee's direct supervisor for this contact. Before the Town makes this direct contact with the health care provider, the employee will be given an opportunity to resolve any deficiencies in the medical certification. In compliance with the HIPAA Medical Privacy Rules, the Town will obtain the employee's permission for clarification of individually identifiable health information.

The Town has the right to ask for a second opinion if it has the reason to doubt the certification. The Town will pay for the employee to get a certification from a second doctor, which the Town will select. The Town may deny FMLA leave to an employee who refuses to release relevant medical records to the health care provider designated to provide a second or third opinion. If necessary to resolve a conflict between the original certification and the second opinion, the Town will require the opinion of a third doctor. The Town and the employee will mutually select the third doctor, and the Town will pay for the opinion. This third opinion will be considered final. The employee will be provisionally entitled to leave and benefits under the FMLA pending the second and/or third opinion.

Certification for the family member's serious health condition.

The Town will require certification for the family member's serious health condition. The employee must respond to such a request within 15 days of the request or provide a reasonable explanation for the delay. Failure to provide certification may result in a denial of continuation of leave. Medical certification will be provided using the DOL Certification of Health Care Provider for Family Member's Serious Health Condition.

The Town may directly contact the employee's family member's health care provider for verification or clarification purposes using a health care professional, an HR professional, leave administrator or management official. The Town will not use the employee's direct supervisor for this contact. Before the Town makes this direct contact with the health care provider, the employee will be given an opportunity to resolve any deficiencies in the medical certification. In compliance with HIPAA Medical Privacy Rules, the Town will obtain the employee's family member's permission for clarification of individually identifiable health information.

The Town has the right to ask for a second opinion if it has a reason to doubt the certification. The Town will pay for the employee's family member to get a certification from a second doctor, which the Town will select. The Town may deny FMLA leave to an employee whose family member refuses to release relevant medical records to the health care provider designated to provide a second or third opinion. If necessary to resolve a conflict between the original certification and the second opinion, the Town will require the opinion of a third doctor. The Town and the employee will mutually select the third doctor, and the Town will pay for the opinion. This third opinion will be considered final. The employee will be provisionally entitled to leave and benefits under the FMLA pending the second and/or third opinion.

Certification of qualifying exigency for military family leave. The Town will require certification of the qualifying exigency for military family leave. The employee must respond to such a request within 15 days of the request or provide a reasonable explanation for the delay. Failure to provide certification may result in a denial of continuation of leave. This certification will be provided using the DOL Certification of Qualifying Exigency for Military Family Leave.

Certification for serious injury or illness of covered service member for military family leave. The Town will require certification for the serious injury or illness of the covered service member. The employee must respond to such a request within 15 days of the request or provide a reasonable explanation for the delay. Failure to provide certification may result in a denial of continuation of leave. This certification will be provided using the DOL Certification for Serious Injury or Illness of a Covered Service Member.

Recertification. The Town may request recertification for the serious health condition of the employee or the employee's family member no more frequently than every 30 days unless circumstances have changed significantly, or if the Town receives information casting doubt on the reason given for the absence, or if the employee seeks an extension of his or her leave. Otherwise, the Town may request recertification for the serious health condition of the employee or the employee's family member every six months in connection with an FMLA absence. The Town may provide the employee's health care provider with the employee's attendance records and ask whether need for leave is consistent with the employee's serious health condition.

Procedure for requesting FMLA leave.

All employees requesting FMLA leave must provide verbal or written notice of the need for the leave to the HR Manager. Within five business days after the employee has provided this notice, the HR Manager will complete and provide the employee with the DOL Notice of Eligibility and Rights.

When the need for the leave is foreseeable, the employee must provide the employer with at least 30 days' notice. When an employee becomes aware of a need for FMLA leave less than 30 days in advance, the employee must provide notice of the need for the leave either the same day or the next business day. When the need for FMLA leave is not foreseeable, the employee must comply with the company's usual and customary notice and procedural requirements for requesting leave, absent unusual circumstances.

Designation of FMLA leave. Within five business days after the employee has submitted the appropriate certification form, the HR Manager will complete and provide the employee with a written response to the employee's request for FMLA using the DOL Designation Notice.

Intent to return to work from FMLA leave.

On a basis that does not discriminate against employees on FMLA leave, the Town may require an employee on FMLA leave to report periodically on the employee's status and intent to return to work.